Visible multiple record



May 26, 19.42.

J. B. MCDERMOTT 2,284,586

VISIBLE MULTIPLE RECORD Filed July 10, 1941 BY j j @It ,df rra/wirf Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE VISIBLE MULTIPLE RECORD Joseph B. McDermott, Danville, Ill.

Application July l0, 1941, Serial No. 401,837

(Cl. 12S-16.7)

18 Claims.

This invention relates to an index system and more particularly a separating arrangement carried by each element of the system, whereby said elements may be manipulated for application of data thereto and for exposure of data thereon.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a separating .or spacing arrangement for individual elements of an index system which element with the separating or spacing arrangement thereon, may be handled substantially as an element without such arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to associate a plurality of arrangement provided elements with a connection that permits the handling of said elements as a unit and for other purposes as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Another object of the invention is to provide elements including separating arrangements which may be utilized in a rotary index apparatus so that not only will the uppermost individual elements be automatically separated sufficiently for element selection for data information purposes, but which in addition thereto will so cooperate that back-slap and the like incident to rotary device use is materially lessened and noise incident to back-slap action is substantially eliminated.

One feature of the invention consists in providing a separating or spacing arrangement for an index system element, which separating element may expeditiously be applied to the index element or removed therefrom and which when applied is of non-interfering character insofar as, first, the use of the element in the application of data thereto, either by hand or typewriting machine, or the like, and which is detachably associated therewith so that it may be removed and reapplied to the index element so that another side or portion of the element may be used for data reception after one side thereof has been completely or substantially filled.

Another feature of the invention consists in an index element provided with a separating arrangement, which element is of multi-leaf character, which in addition to providing additional area for data reception and being capable of standing substantially upright without the aid of any other support, is of such character that the connection between the portions of the index member is of substantially the same thickness as the separating member so that a series of said elements when fully .or compactly compressed, have approximately the same thickness throughout the group of elements.

Another feature of the invention consists in associating with a plurality of separating arrangement provided index elements, an extensible group retaining arrangement, permitting removal of the entire group as a unit, the group being adapted to permit ready removal of any single element therefrom or the addition of any single element thereto, and which group is further characterized by being openable for full exposure purposes, all as hereinafter pointed out.

Other objects and features of this invention and its several applications will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a group of plural leaf index members provided with the invention and relates to the separating portions.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the aforesaid group in opened relation, for exposure of all the data information on one side ofA one of the elements, as well as all the data information on one side of the opposite element.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a single dual leaf index element providedV with the invention.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same in extended relation.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the separating element.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a rotary index machine provided with a plurality of index members, the index element being Vdetaehably assoeiated with said machine.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a single leaf index element capable of use as illustrated in Fig. 6 as Well as in a box file or in a loose leaf binder file.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, there is illustrated, as stated, one embodiment of a dual leaf form of index element provided with a separating arrangement, while Fig. 7 illustrates a singular sheet also provided with the same type of separating arrangement.V

In Fig. 4 the dual leaf blank includes portion III and portion II, the same being hingedly connected as at I2. Portions I0 and II near their resulting lower edges and extending inwardly from the side edges are provided with the notches or slots I3. Herein each portion II) and Il near the top and medially positioned, is provided with a pair of slots I4, the same having a predetermined spacing arrangement. Insertable in either pair of spaced slots is the separating arrangement illustrated in Fig. 5.

This separating arrangement includes a very thin, narrow, sinuous spring-like arrangement, herein shown as including a central curved portion I5, two oppositely directed curved portions I6 and the reverse return immediate free ends I 1. This resilient member is of clock spring steel and has a thickness of but a few thousandths of an inch.

This spring element, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, is inserted in a pair of spaced slots I4 in the manner illustrated. The nonpenetrating ends I'I bear on the face of the index element opposite the face which exposes the portion I5 of the separating element. As will be obvious from Fig. 4, the separating element may be associated with either pair of slots I4 or may be associated with the same pair of slots I4 in one relationship. or in the reverse relationship. Preferably the separating element is applied to the index element, shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, such that the ends I1 and portions I6 are concealed by the index element when the same is folded upon the hinge line I2.

The hinge arrangement is such, as previously suggested, initially herein, that when the card or index element is collapsed, the thickness of this hinge is Vapproximately such that the card withthe separating element is of uniform thickness through the card. So that, in a group when compacted, the thickness of the group at the bottom of the cards is substantially the same as the thickness of the group at the top of the cards.

It will be quite apparent that the face A of the portion I0 may be provided with any suitable legending. For example, for stock record purposes, the data A yat the top-see Fig. 3-of the face A would carry the designation oi the particular number or legending including size, or sizes. The remainder of the face A of the card then would show the available stock on hand at successive dates as the stock record is posted and may include different size designations and stock on hand relative to each size as is well understood in stock record accounting systems. For credit and like purposes, the legending A would constitute the name and address of the person concerned, and the remainder of the card vwould be provided from time to time with data relative to that person as to credit responsibility, payments, liabilities, purchases, et cetera, as is well understood in accounting, and sales systems utilizing cards or index elements.

When the face A has been fully covered, the face B of the portion II may be utilized and the separating element applied to the other pair of slots I4. When this face B has been completely filled, the card may be reversed and folded at I2, and then the face C of the card would be exposed without removing the separating element, if desired. In thiscase, then the portion I6 and end I'I of the separating element would be exposed at the back of the card. If it is not desired to expose the same, the spring element may be removed and reversed to the position relative to the card portion Il?. When the face C is exposed, the face D, or the back of portion A, may be utilized for data reception and the separating element or spring may be suitably associated with the card.

It is here to be noted that it is not essential that the ends I1 be concealed. They may be exposed, `as previously set forth. The spring is of such construction that when mounted` on the card, it will pass through the typewriting machine without interference-that is, will not hang-up or catch up on any part of the typewriter in the movement of the card through the typewriter machine incident to the application of data to the card.

The term index member has been used hereinbefore and will be used hereinafter in referring to cards in card systems, comparatively heavy, good grade ledger sheets, and the like, andthe term separating element is always intended to refer to the comparatively light spring of the character speciiied hereinbefore and illustrated in Fig. 5. This spring in appearance is approximately 1/8" Wide and has a thickness the same or not much more than that of the card. Reference now will be had more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. In said figures a group of cards, such as illustrated in Figs.v 3 and` 4, and each provided with a separating Yelement or spring, such as illustrated in Fig. 5is positioned in sequential relation and an endless type, yielding Vor elastic member is seated in the notches I3, as shown. This elastic member is exposed rearwardly of the rearrnost card, as indicated in Fig. 2 by the numeral 2l), and is exposed forwardly of the foremost card, as indicated at 2I in Fig. 2. Portions 20 and 2| at their ODpOsite ends are joined by the portions23.V Thus, the yielding retaining member is of endless character, such'as a rubber band, or maybe an elastic cord knotted into band formation.

Anywhere from fty to one hundred cards may be yieldingly retained in a group, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and these groups may be maintained in a card index iile or box and removed as a unit therefrom forV postingor like purposes. When removed, the group normally assumes the position shown in Fig. 1, exposing at the upper edges of the card the data A.

When more than the mere address is desired in connection with the work involved, the group may be opened, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus the endless band structure constitutes a hinge for retention of the cards, as Yit were, in loose leaf book form. Whenever it is desired to insert or remove a card from the group, the selection at the point of insertion is made by observing the group as shown in Fig. l, selecting the desired card, and then moving it to the right or left sufciently to free the lower end of that card from portion 23. Then the card may be moved in the reverse direction to free the opposite end of the card from the portion 23. The card then is free of the group.

To insert a card, the reverse action is employed, to-wit, one end of the card is inserted so that member 23 registers with the registering notches I3, then the vcard is continued in a direction previous to the aforesaid, until it is possible to register the opposite member 23 with the registering oppositenotches or slots I3.'

Then the card is reversely moved into alignment with` the remaining cards. This card insertion or card removal may be effected in the lile box in the group as shown in Fig. y1or in the group when positioned as shown in Fig. 2. When the work in the group of cards, which has been removed fromV the box, has been completed, the entire group is bodily reinserted-in the box or le.

There may be associated with each group a separator card bearing a tab indiciayconventional to index systems. This card may or may not be provided with the spacing element, as desired. It, however, is not necessary since each of the record cards is provided with a separating element. Usually the separating card is of heavier stock so that by pulling upwardly on the tab of the separating card the entire group or cluster of cards associated with the separating card may be removed simultaneously from the files when connected by the band.

It, of course, is to be understood that instead of each separating member (spring) being vertically positioned, as it were, relative to the card, the same may be horizontally positioned.

It also is to be understood that each bottom edge of the portions I and II may be, if desired, perforated in much the same manner as that hereinafter set forth with reference to Fig. 'l so that such cards may be received by a loose leaf binder structure.

Reference now will be had to Fig. 7. In this figure, there is illustrated a card H0 of single thickness. It is provided with a pair of horizontally spaced medianly positioned slots H4 and near the top edge H2. Adjacent the opposite edge there is provided a keyhole shaped notch H3. If desired, there may be provided other openings, as indicated at II 3a, and these may cooperate with the opening H3 or not, depending upon the loose leaf binder construction, whether said binder is provided with three or two leaf anchoring ring or like members.

The card Hi] is herein shown provided on its face A with the master legending A'. Mounted in the slots I I4 is the yielding separating element in the form of a spring identical to that shown in Fig. 5. This spring may be applied to either side of the card. Preferably the central curved portion I5 is exposed on the operating face of the card.

When the entire face of the card hasbeen covered with data, the spring may be removed from the card, the card inverted and the spring reestablished in its original position but upon the opposite face of the card. As previously set forth, the application of the spring to the card does not in any way interfere with the use of the card in a typewriting machine, or the like, since the spring readily ilattens out as it is worked through the machine with the card. In mounting and demounting the spring since the spring is very iiexible, and for mounting purposes, the spring is grasped so that the two pro tions I6 are brought close together with the edges Il spaced apart equal to the spacing between the slots I4 or H4, and then the ends II are inserted therethrough and the spring released. To remove the spring from the card, the central portion I5 is grasped and slight pulling pressure immediately releases the spring from the card. In connection with the card shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it was pointed out that the lower edges thereof might be perforated as shown at I I3 or I I3a, as desired.

When the cards shown in Fig. 'l are utilized in a le box or container or a file drawer, it will be apparent that the respective master data A will be simultaneously exposed upon a large group of cards. If the cards preceding and following the group are separated by the thumb and one finger, leaving sufficient room between these two groups for the intermediate group to automatically separate under spring impulse, the primary data A on each of the cards of the intermediate group then will be plainly exposed.

Reference now will be had to Fig. 6. In this figure there is illustrated a conventional rotary index machine, including a support portion 203 that provides the bearings 20I to receive a shaft 292 that mounts a reel structure 203. This reel structure includes side guide elements 204 and there is centrally or otherwise positioned between the side guides 25M, and slightly spaced from the circular cylinder base 20'5, a, card receiving member 266. This is supported from the portion 205 at suitable intervals. The reel before mentioned, mounts on an extension of the shaft 22 and beyond one of the bearings a hand wheel 2M by which the reel structure may be turned.

The member 266 between the support portions, not shown, is adapted to receive a plurality of cards such as is illustrated in Fig. 7, portion 206 being seatable in the keyhole type notch or slot H3. The cards in this instance are mounted in the usual manner that cards without separators are mounted on such rotary index device.

It will be apparent that any desired number of cards may be grouped together on the reel and as these cards are brought to the upper part or upper position, the springs normally separate all of the uppermost cards of the uppermost group or cluster of cards, and, therefore, the legending A on each and everyone of these particular cards in that group will be simultaneously exposed.

Furthermore, this invention when utilized in cards applied to a rotary index device serves to cushion the shock or flapping of the cards in the rotation of the reel so that the card slap which is noticeable in a rotary index device is cushioned and the noise thereof is substantially eliminated. Furthermore, the force of the slap is sequentially dissipated, card-by-card, through the individual separating springs instead of the several cards of a group being immediately in contact side-by-side and moving as a unit. This resists the tendency of the cards to automatically disengage from the member Zilli when the reel is quickly rotated from one position to another and the amount of rotation is considerable, say,

one-half turn.

In Figs. 2 to Ll, inclusive, it will be noted the card at each end is provided with a notch SI that has a sloping edge Sla, a socket portion 3Ib, and an opposite edge or neck 3Ic. When the card is folded-see Fig. 2-the resulting composite aperture is similar to that illustrated at H3 in Fig, 7. This card shown in Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, when so provided with the apertures mentioned, may be used on the rotary index machine just as well as the card shown in Fig. 7.

When either folded portion is moved relative to its attached portion and at the free edge (bottom) and in a direction generally parallel thereto and toward that sid-e edge which is spaced from the socket portion by the neck portion, the two apertures widen the effective throat of the folded member aperture so that the lmember may be readily mounted upon or deniounted from a card support such as member 2%, see Fig. 6, and with one hand operation.

It is notedsee Figs. 3 and ll-that in applying the suitable legending on the data line A1 the line Bl-see Fig. 4-is applied by merely single spacing the typewriter and retyping the legending on the two adjacent lines. This is accomplished by inserting the double card in the typewriter before it is folded as shown in Fig. 4 (also if desired, before the spring is applied to the card). After typing the legending B and A on the lines above and below the scre l2 for folding, the card may constitute visibility front and back for each card after the spring is applied and the scored card folded for use in its respective cluster of cards.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawing and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims..

. The invention claimed is:

1. A sheet member for an index system, including a plurality of spaced slots therein, and a comparatively light sinuous spring member seated in the slots with a curved portion. upon one side of the slotted sheet and adjacent curved portions upon the opposite side thereof, said sinuous spring member being readily flattened for the purposes described.

2. The combination of a sheet including a pair of spaced slots and a sinuous light spring member mounted in said slots and having a curved portion exposed on one side of the sheet and at least one curved portion exposed on the opposite side o'f the sheet.

3. A structure as defined by claim 1, characterized by the sheet member being foldable upon itself and each folded portion thereof including similarly spaced slots for selective reception of said spring member.

4. A structure as defined by claim 1, characterized by the spaced slots being positioned near the top of the she-et member and approximately medianly Vbetween the side edges of that member.

5. A structure as defined by claim 1, characterized by the spaced slots being positioned near the top of the sheet member and approximately medianly between the side edges of that member, the slots having an alignment substantially parallel to the side edges of the sheet member.

6. A structure as defined by claim 1, characterized by the spaced slots being positioned near the top of the sheet member and approximately medianly between the side edges of that member, the slots having an alignment substantially parallel to the top edge of the sheet member.`

7. A sheet member for an index system, in cluding a plurality of spaced slots therein, and a. comparatively light sinuous spring member seated in the slots with a curved portion. upon one side of the slotted sheet and adjacent curved portions upon the opposite side thereof', said sinuous spring member being readily flattened for the purposes described, the slots having an alignment substantially parallel to the top edge of the member.

8. A sheet member for an index system, including a plurality of spaced slots therein, and a comparatively light sinuous spring member seated in the slots with a curved portion upon one side of the slotted sheet and adjacent curved portions upon the opposite side thereof, said sinuous spring member being readily flattened for the purposes described, the slots having an alignment substantially parallel to the side edges of the member.

9. A sheet member for an index system, in-

cluding a plurality of spaced slots therein, and a` comparatively lightI sinuous spring member seated in the slots with a curved portion upon one side of the slotted sheet and adjacent curved portions upon the opposite side thereof, said sinuous spring member being readily flattened for the purposes described, the bottom portion of the sheet member being suitably apertured to facilitate sheet member grouping.

10. A cluster of similar sheet members, each being of the character defined by claim 9, and means associated with the apertures of all sheet members to retain same in sequential and group formation, the means constituting an elastic band arrangement, the apertures being at opposite sides of each sheet member and said band arrangement encompassing the group and seated in the apertures, the group when free of external pressure fanning out for card top exposure and when divided being open like a book for single sheet member complete exposure.

11. A structure as defined by claim 1, characterized by the sheet member being foldable upon itself and each folded portion thereof including similarly spaced slots for selective reception of said spring member, the fold and the spring member when flattened having substantially the same thickness.

12. A structure as defined by claim 1, characterized by the spaced slots being positioned near the top of the sheet member and approximately medianly between the side edges of that member, the sheet member being of multi-leaf character, each leaf being connected to the adjacent leaf by folding the sheet member upon itself.

13, A structure as defined by claim 1, characterized by the sheet member being foldable upon itself and when partially unfolded being capable of self-sustainment, easel fashion, when supported upon the separated bottom edges.l

14. The combination with a rotary index machine, of a plurality of sheets detachably supported thereby near the bottom of each sheet, each sheet being of the character defined by claim 1.

15. A sheet member for an index system, in-

cluding a plurality of spaced slots therein, and a comparatively light sinuous spring member seated in the slots with a curved portion upon one side of the slotted sheet and adjacent curved portions upon the opposite side thereof, said sinuous spring member being readily flattenedfor the purposes described the free ends of the spring member being arranged for non-penetration of the sheet member.

16. A self-locking socketed, double sheet member for an index system formed by the sheet member being medianly foldable upon itself, the folded portions at opposite free edges being apertured, each aperture having a sloping edge leading to an interior socket portion spaced from the edge, and a tongue forming neck portion between the socket and edge opposite the sloping edge, the socket portions registering when the edges are juxtapositioned to each other, and the neck portions then confronting each other, lateral movement of a folded portion parallel to the free edge thereof in a direction toward the neck portion from the side edge of that portion opposite the intervening aperture opening the socket arrangement for member mounting upon and demounting from a support. Y

17. A self-locking socketed, double sheet member for an index system formed by the sheet member being medianly foldable upon itself, the

folded portions at opposite free edges being apertured, each aperture having a sloping edge 1eading to an interior socket portion spaced from the edge, and a tongue forming neck portion between the socket and edge opposite the sloping edge, the socket portions registering when the edges are juxtapositioned to each other, and the neck portions then confronting each other, lateral movement of a folded portion parallel to the free edge thereoic in adirection toward the neck portion from the side edge of, that portion opposite the intervening aperture opening the socket arrangement Eor member mounting upon and demounting from a support, one folded portion inoluding a plurality of .spaced slots therein and a comparatively light sinuous spring member seated in the slots and having a curved portion exposed on one side of that slotted portion and at least one curved portion exposed on the opposite side of that slotted portion of the folded sheet member.

18. A structure as defined by claim 17, characterized by the other folded portion having similar slots therein, the spring member being selectively mountable upon either folded portion and in the slots thereof.

J OSEPH B. MCDERMOTT. 

